DACORUM BUSINESS ADVOCATES HERTFORDSHIRE YEAR OF CULTURE 2020

The Hemel Hempstead Business Ambassadors are advocating the Hertfordshire Year of Culture 2020 (HYOC2020) and working in conjunction with Dacorum Borough Council to promote businesses across the borough of Dacorum to ensure they are involved from the offset and maximise their opportunity to get involved during this important programme of activities.

The Hertfordshire Year of Culture 2020 is intended to showcase Hertfordshire as a county of creative and cultural opportunities, involving organisations, business and individuals.

During the 12-month programme, a number of themed events and special experiences will be held around Dacorum, including cross-county collaborations with St Albans.

Tourism is vital to any county and it is extremely important that we continue to give visitors reasons to consider Hertfordshire and to visit our destinations. The Year of Culture will enhance this yet further. Currently Hertfordshire welcomes 28 million visitors a year, championing the county’s £2.2 billion tourism industry which supports more than 40,000 jobs. Of this, Dacorum attracts 3.4 million visitors with a value of £269 million, supporting more than 4,505 jobs.

Annie Smith, the Community Partnerships Wellbeing Officer at Dacorum Borough Council will have responsibility for delivering the activities in Dacorum. Individuals interested in finding out more, being involved or to join a contact list for further details as they are released, should email: annie.smith@dacorum.gov.uk.

The campaign is being led by the Hertfordshire Association of Cultural Officers (HACO) and encouraging everyone from across the sector to get involved – including the business sector.

Enable access and participation in arts, culture and heritage for new audiences

Increase wellbeing and a sense of belonging through arts, culture and heritage

Showcase pathways to education, employment and enterprise in creative and cultural industries

Create new partnerships and new work through skill sharing and new ways of working

The Hemel ‘story’ presented by the Hemel Hempstead Business Ambassadors encapsulates four distinct themes, all of which are closely aligned to the objectives of the HYOC2020 in creating higher visibility of the cultural offer across the county for both residents and visitors.

Gary Stringer, Place Manager for the Hemel Ambassadors, said, “The main aim of the Ambassadors is to attract investment into Dacorum and we are looking forward to promoting new partnerships and skill sharing between organisations and practitioners, creating new activity locally.”

Businesses wishing to find out more and how they can get involved will be able to meet Annie Smith at the next Ambassadors’ event to be held at the Felden Lodge Conference and Training Centre on Thursday 23 May. Full details via the website at: www.investhemel.co.uk/events.

For further information about the Hemel Hempstead Business Ambassadors, visit www.investhemel.co.uk or contact Gary Stringer, Ambassador Place Manager, on tel: 01442 228808.